William (Bill) Wyatt Mitchem Sr., a man of immeasurable talent, unwavering integrity, and a heart as big as the songs he played, passed away at 6:35 pm on March 2, 2025, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.Born on August 17, 1943, in Granite City, Illinois, to John Wyatt Mitchem and Glenda (Hicks) Mitchem, Bill was a man who walked his own path, never one to follow the crowd. He was a musician at heart, an auctioneer, and a natural storyteller. In the late 60s and early 70s, his voice filled the airwaves of WGNU in Granite City, Illinois, where he hosted a show reminiscent of The Louisiana Hayride, bringing the sounds of country music to eager ears. Icons like Conway Twitty and Waylon Jennings shared his stage, drawn not only to his talent but to the genuine man behind the microphone.Three times, RCA Records came calling, offering him the dream so many chase. Three times, he turned them down, firm in his belief that he wouldn’t gamble on a “maybe.” To the world, he could have been a star. To th

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